Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced on March 13 that the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal will open on May 16.

“Our city has long been a preferred destination for international business and tourism, and I look forward to May 16, when we greet travelers from around the world in this new, state-of-the-art terminal,” Reed said. “The international terminal will strengthen Atlanta’s position as the capital of the Southeast and a vital global gateway for the United States.”

Reed; Aviation General Manager Louis Miller; Holden Shannon, Delta Air Lines senior vice president of corporate strategy and real estate; and other officials were on hand at a news conference at the international terminal to share the long-awaited announcement.

“The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal has a focus on efficiency and customer-friendly design, so it will serve our international guests well now and in the future,” Miller said.

The opening of the international terminal will coincide with record numbers of international passengers and flight operations at Hartsfield-Jackson. In 2011, Hartsfield-Jackson welcomed 9.86 million international passengers and managed 68,781 international flight operations (takeoffs and landings). The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that Atlanta will handle more than 13 million international passengers by 2015.

Aviation General Manager Louis Miller welcomes media and other guests at a news conference to announce the opening date of the international terminal. Mayor Kasim Reed said the terminal will begin operations on May 16.